On This Day at the World Cup – July 13: Baggio At The Double As Italy Reach Final

Roberto Baggio secured Italy’s ticket to the World Cup final by scoring both goals in the 2-1 semi-final win over Bulgaria on this day in 1994.

Having drawn a blank in the group phase, the Divine Ponytail exploded into life in the knockout games, scoring twice in a 2-1 win against Nigeria in the last 16 and netting a late winner in the victory over Spain in the quarter-final.

In the semi-final Baggio was at it again, scoring two of his best goals in an Italy shirt as the Azzurri reached their first World Cup final in 12 years. Their talismanic No 10, however, would not be at his best in Pasadena against Brazil after picking up a hamstring injury against Bulgaria, which may well have changed the course of Italian football history.

Baggio would atone for the disappointment by winning a domestic double with Juventus the following season and bringing both trophies back to the Stadio delle Alpi as he finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting after winning the award in 1993.

Built for Italia 90, the stadium was bulldozed in 2006 and Juventus built a new arena on the same site, which opened five years later along with a museum charting the club’s history, in which Baggio features prominently.

You can watch Juventus in action and sleep next door, as the JHotel at the Allianz Stadium offers stay/ticket packages.

Check out our Turin city page and Juve club page for all the information you need ahead of booking a trip.